Two Malawi old men arraigned for sex crimes against young girls

A 70 year old Mangochi man, James Nikisi has been arrested by Namwera Police for defiling an 8 year old girl contrary to section 138 (1) of the penal code.

Victims of rape

Mangochi Police Public Relations Officer (PRO), Inspector Rodrick Maida said t the suspect, Nikisi was arrested on Tuesday at Simbiri Village in the area of Traditional Authority (T/A) Jalasi where the incident took place.

He said the girl (name withheld) who is an orphan was living with her grandfather who happens to be the defiler.

“On the day of the incident, the suspect took the girl to the garden for cultivation in the morning. On returning home in the afternoon, some women in the village noticed that the girl was having difficulties in walking where bleeding in the private parts was also discovered,” Maida alleged.

He said when interrogated the unsuspecting girl lied that she had been injured by a tree branch.

However, Maida added that upon being questioned persistently she revealed that she had been defiled by her grandfather.

The matter was then reported to police who referred her to Namwera Health Centre for medical examination which confirmed that the girl had indeed been defiled.

According to Maida, the suspect will appear before the court soon to answer to the charge of defilement which attracts a maximum punishment of 14 years imprisonment if one is convicted.

Nikisi comes from Chiwiza Village in the area of T/A Jalasi in the district.

In Salima, the First Grade Magistrate Court Wednesday sentenced Jeremiah Chipeza, 50, to 8 years imprisonment with hard labour (IHL) for defiling a 15 year-old girl.

The court heard that on June 25 last year, the victim who was selling firewood and charcoal at Msangu Market met the offender who asked her to escort him to town and later passed to an unfinished house where defiled her.

It was reported in the court that after the accused was found in the act by a passersby who saw the two entering the unfinished house, the girl revealed the incident to her friends who took the victim to the law enforcers at Salima Police Station.

A medical examination conducted at Salima District Hospital confirmed that the girl was indeed defiled by the accused and she contacted syphilis.

Police prosecutor, John Kamphani asked the court to pass a stiffer punishment considering that such cases are rising in the district and because the accused infected the girl.

In mitigation, Chipeza pleaded for court leniency saying he has a heart problem which needs medical attention time to time and that he looks after 11 children and his old mother.

Passing the judgment, First Grade Magistrate Alex Kamtiki quashed the mitigation factor saying the victim being a church elder should have protected the girl but he instead defiled her which is contrary to section 138 of the penal code. He then sentenced Chipeza to 8 years IHL.